A CAR caught on fire on the A27 leading to queuing traffic in the area.

The car caught fire at about 11.10am today.

It is partially blocking the A27 near the junction with the A270 Lewes Road, between Stanmer and Falmer.

The road was closed between Lewes Road and Braypool Lane.

A spokesman for Highways England said: “The A27 in East Sussex is closed eastbound between the A23 in Patcham and the A270 in Falmer due to a car fire near Brighton.

“In addition there is a large fuel spillage across the carriageway.

“Fire and Rescue services are on the scene with Sussex Police.

“Traffic is being diverted via local routes.

“Please plan ahead if travelling in the region this afternoon.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "At about 11.10am a car caught fire on the eastbound A27 between Hollingbury and Falmer.

"The man driving the car, who was the sole occupant, was unhurt.

"The eastbound carriageway has been closed while the car was removed and Fire Service and Highways cleared the road of debris.

"Drivers have been advised to avoid that route and the vicinity if at all possible for the time being." 

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "A crew from Roedean were called to a car fire along the A27 at 11.15 this morning.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire using one hose reel jet.

"They made the area safe and left the scene at midday." 

An AA spokesman warned drivers this was causing very slow traffic.

The spokesman added: “There are severe delays of 18 minutes and these delays are increasing on the A27 Eastbound between A23 London Road and Coldean Lane at the Hollingbury and Ditchling junction.

“There is an average speed five mph.”

This is affecting buses in the area.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Buses said: "We've received reports of a car on fire on the A27.

"Traffic is filtering onto Coldean Lane which may cause delays to BH24 services and knock-on delays to BH26 services."

Drivers caught in the traffic posted on Twitter about the fire.

One said: "Brighton folks, there's a car fire eastbound on the A27 and the traffic is backing up for miles.

"Don't go there."

The road was reopened at about 2.10pm having been shut since 11.30pam.

But traffic in the area is still "very slow".

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